Care UK has pulled out of a contract to provide NHS 111 and out of hours services across several clinical commissioning group areas six weeks after it was awarded, putting the intended launch date of the service at risk.

A new commissioning executive is to be formed to overcome the “significant challenge” of commissioning across a sustainability and transformation plan footprint in the East of England, and will take powers from seven clinical commissioning groups.

PERFORMANCE: Royal Berkshire Foundation Trust’s performance against the national waiting standard for accident and emergency worsened in February, with 92.1 per cent of patients being treated or discharged within four hours.